Patent US4684491A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4684491A
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US
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Nozzle seal retaining assembly and positioning assembly therefor
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1986-01-09
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Granted: 1987-08-04
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Expires: 2006-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A retaining assembly holds a nozzle seal in the nozzle of a nuclear steam generator vessel. The assembly includes two arcuate beams generally following the curvature of the vessel wall, one beam lying generally alongside the divider plate and the other extending diametrically across the nozzle seal and being coupled thereto. The outer ends of the beams are anchored to the outer edge of the tube sheet and have brace members which bear against the vessel wall. The inner walls of the beams are interconnected by a thrust assembly which bears against the divider plate and includes an adjustable jacking screw means for urging the beams against the tube sheet. The effective length of the beam coupled to the nozzle seal can be varied by selectively replaceable spacers. A lightweight positioning assembly which simulates the beam coupled to the nozzle seal can be inserted preliminarily to couple to the nozzle seal and the tube sheet for predetermining the anchor position for the other beam and measuring the distance from a point on the positioner to the divider plate for determining the size spacer needed in the retaining assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Rylatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:42
CPC Classifications
F; F22; F22B; F22B37/00; F22B37/02; F22B37/22; F22B37/221; F22B37/222; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/20; Y10T292/202; Y10T292/205; Y10T292/212; Y10T292/216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
In a nuclear steam generator vessel having a part-spherical bottom wall cooperating with a horizontal tube sheet and a vertical divider plate to define a plenum having a nozzle, apparatus for retaining a nozzle seal in the nozzle against displacement into the plenum comprising: rigid beam means disposed in the plenum, attachment means connecting said beam means to the nozzle seal, anchor means connecting said beam means to the tube sheet, and coupling means bracing said beam means against the divider plate, whereby said beam means is securely braced between the tube sheet and the divider plate for transferring thereto forces coupled to said beam means from the nozzle seal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a nuclear steam generator vessel having a part-spherical bottom wall cooperating with a horizontal tube sheet and a vertical divider plate to define a plenum having a nozzle, apparatus for retaining a nozzle seal in the nozzle against displacement into the plenum comprising: rigid beam means disposed in the plenum, attachment means connecting said beam means to the nozzle seal, anchor means connecting said beam means to the tube sheet, and coupling means bracing said beam means against the divider plate, whereby said beam means is securely braced between the tube sheet and the divider plate for transferring thereto forces coupled to said beam means from the nozzle seal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said beam means is arcuate in shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said beam means extends substantially diametrically across the nozzle seal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said anchor means is connected to the tube sheet adjacent to the vessel bottom wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said anchor means includes lateral brace means engageable with the vessel bottom wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling means is disposed against the divider plate at the bottommost portion thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes adjustment means for varying the overall dimensions of said apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said adjustment means includes replaceable spacer means disposed between said coupling means and said beam means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a nuclear steam generator vessel having a part-spherical bottom wall cooperating with a horizontal tube sheet and a vertical divider plate to define a plenum having a nozzle, apparatus for retaining a nozzle seal in the nozzle against displacement into the plenum comprising: first and second beam means respectively disposed in first and second intersecting planes and each having an inner end and an outer end, said first plane intersecting the nozzle seal and the divider plate, coupling means disposed in engagement with the divider plate and interconnecting said inner ends of said first and second beam means, first and second anchor means respectively anchoring said outer ends of said first and second beam means to the tube sheet, and attachment means connecting said first beam means to the nozzle seal, whereby said beam means is securely braced between the tube sheet and the divider plate for transferring thereto forces coupled to said beam means from the nozzle seal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a nuclear steam generator vessel having a part-spherical bottom wall cooperating with a horizontal tube sheet and a vertical divider plate to define a plenum having a nozzle, apparatus for retaining a nozzle seal in the nozzle against displacement into the plenum comprising: first and second beam means respectively disposed in first and second intersecting planes and each having an inner end and an outer end, said first plane intersecting the nozzle seal and the divider plate, coupling means disposed in engagement with the divider plate and interconnecting said inner ends of said first and second beam means, first and second anchor means respectively anchoring said outer ends of said first and second beam means to the tube sheet, and attachment means connecting said first beam means to the nozzle seal, whereby said beam means is securely braced between the tube sheet and the divider plate for transferring thereto forces coupled to said beam means from the nozzle seal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first and second planes are disposed substantially vertically.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first plane extends substantially diametrically across the nozzle seal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of said first and second beam means is arcuate in shape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of said first and second anchor means is connected to the tube sheet adjacent to the vessel bottom wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of said first and second anchor means includes lateral brace means engageable with the vessel bottom wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said attachment means comprises clamp means releasably engageable with said first beam means and slidably movable with respect thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said coupling means includes selectively replaceable spacer means coupled to said first beam means for selectively varying the effective length thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said coupling means includes jacking means for urging said first and second beam means firmly against the tube sheet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a nuclear steam generator vessel having a part-spherical bottom wall cooperating with a horizontal tube sheet and a vertical divider plate to define a plenum having a nozzle, wherein a nozzle seal is retained in the nozzle by a retaining assembly anchored to the tube sheet at a predetermined location and having an adjustment portion with a selectively variable dimension, positioning apparatus for predetermining the variable dimension of the adjustment portion comprising: mounting means adapted to be mounted on the tube sheet at the predetermined location, frame means having dimensions equal to predetermined dimensions of the associated retaining assembly, means releasably connecting said frame means to said mounting means and to the nozzle seal in a measuring configuration such that the position of a predetermined point on said frame means defines the position of the adjustment portion of retaining assembly, and measuring means coupled to said frame means for measuring the distance from said predetermined point to the divider plate, thereby to determine the variable dimension of the adjustment portion of the retaining assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a nuclear steam generator vessel having a part-spherical bottom wall cooperating with a horizontal tube sheet and a vertical divider plate to define a plenum having a nozzle, wherein a nozzle seal is retained in the nozzle by a retaining assembly anchored to the tube sheet at a predetermined location and having an adjustment portion with a selectively variable dimension, positioning apparatus for predetermining the variable dimension of the adjustment portion comprising: mounting means adapted to be mounted on the tube sheet at the predetermined location, frame means having dimensions equal to predetermined dimensions of the associated retaining assembly, means releasably connecting said frame means to said mounting means and to the nozzle seal in a measuring configuration such that the position of a predetermined point on said frame means defines the position of the adjustment portion of retaining assembly, and measuring means coupled to said frame means for measuring the distance from said predetermined point to the divider plate, thereby to determine the variable dimension of the adjustment portion of the retaining assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said frame means includes first and second coplanar beams, said first beam extending between said mounting means and the nozzle seal and said second beam extending between the nozzle seal and said predetermined point.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plane of said first and second beam means is disposed substantially vertically and extends diametrically across the nozzle seal and through the midline of the divider plate, said measuring means extending substantially perpendicular to the divider plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-03 | 1991-02-02 | 1991-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-03 | 1995-02-02 | 1995-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-03 | 1999-02-02 | 1999-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |